Is it true that the UC essays don't really matter?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
21

<p>Thanks for the link to the youtube vid. Very helpful.</p>

<p>I did catch one thing though, and I was wondering if anyone else picked up on it.</p>

<p>Around minute 13:09, the speaker mentions high achieving students who, because of their amazing grades and test scores, are having difficulty seeing the purpose of slaving over their UC essays. Her recommendation to counselors on what advice to give is not, "But admissions officers will look at your essays and bad essays could hurt your chances." The speaker's response is, "Have them keep in mind that our scholarship committees also read these..."</p>

<p>So if a high achiever is looking only to be admitted, then perhaps perfect essays aren't necessary.</p>

<p>What do you guys think?</p>

22

<p>Essays do matter a lot at Cal & UCLA; not so much at the other UCs which are much more numbers-driven. Essays also matter for Regents' consideration, even at the lower tier UCs.</p>

23

<p>Essays matter a lot.</p>

<p>I think, awl204, that the comment was meant to suggest that the latter statement might more effectively motivate a high-achieving student to take his personal statement seriously, rather than to suggest that the former is less correct than the latter.</p>

24

<p>I do believe essays matter more at Cal and LA but generally UC admissions to all campuses is very predictable.</p>

<p>Let me ask you guys this, what do you think is the bigger deal breaker, a D or F in 10th/11th grade or a bad essay?</p>

25

<p>i wouldn't have gotten into UCLA if i wrote a bad essay</p>

26

<p>mr muffin,</p>

<p>did you have a d or f in 10th/11th grade?</p>

27

<p>no but i was admitted through appeal</p>